Field hockey coach hired

STOCKTON - Andy Smith, who has had success as an associate field hockey coach at Dartmouth and Cal, has been named Pacific's new head coach.

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By Jagdip Dhillon

recordnet.com

By Jagdip Dhillon

Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Jagdip Dhillon
Posted Feb. 21, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

STOCKTON - Andy Smith, who has had success as an associate field hockey coach at Dartmouth and Cal, has been named Pacific's new head coach.

Smith replaces Linda MacDonald, whose contract was not renewed after it expired in December. MacDonald spent 15 seasons as Pacific's head coach and 11 as an assistant, but the Tigers were just 10-44 in her final three seasons. Smith spent last season at Cal competing against Pacific in the NorPac Conference and was chosen after a national search.

"As I put my name forward, I drew up a list of things we needed to do to be competitive," Smith said. "I just wanted to make sure my vision of the program coincided with what they wanted to do."

Smith said Pacific athletic director Ted Leland assured him necessary resources would be provided for the Tigers to be competitive with Cal and Stanford in the region. Smith said getting a FieldTurf surface to replace Brookside Field is a must, but there still isn't a firm timetable for when that would happen.

Smith, who will officially begin his tenure Monday, plans to move from Berkeley to Stockton with his wife, Jess, and 2-year-old daughter Ellie over the next month and coach his first game in August. The Tigers went 5-14 last season.

Pacific salvaged the finale of its season-opening three-game series against San Jose State over the weekend, winning 8-1 at Klein Family Field on Sunday. The Tigers will look to continue that momentum when they host the Pacific Invitational over the next four days, welcoming UNLV and Gonzaga to Klein Family Field for a round-robin format beginning against the Rebels at 6 p.m. today.